Questions and Answers

Dodge Neon Running Problems Q. Dear Vince Ciulla: You are a Godsend if you can answer my question since I really don't know what I am asking except for "HELP". I bought a 1995 Dodge Neon about a month ago from a private party. The car is a 5-speed manual transmission; mileage is 113,000; I believe it is fuel injected; it has A/C, P/S, no cruise control and It has rack and pinion steering.

All has been super on this vehicle until last week. I went to start the car for about four days, and its usual start right up hardly touching the key changed to a couple of tries before it started. Touching the accelerator seemed to make it worse starting. This may be an indication of fuel injection, I guess, but before it didn't matter. As I drove home one day, the car did a bit of hesitation.

The next day, on the way home from work, it bucked a bit and then drove real slowly like it was dying. The next day, it did about the same with a sudden check engine soon light going on. For several days I could smell a strange odor coming from the car, a slight burning or close smell, not rubber or oil, just strange.

I forgot to mention that sometimes when I turned the car off, a noise under the hood could be heard like a slight motor running. My son said that it sounded like it was coming from the computer module maybe.

When I first bought the car, I could be driving down the highway in fifth gear and if I stomped on the pedal, the car would zoom like I was just beginning to drive. Now it got to the point that first and second gear had no oomph at all and felt like the car would die.

An auto parts store checked the car because the service engine soon light was on (or whatever it says) and said that the only thing it indicated was wrong was the computer module. I bought one at a used parts company and was told is this Federal or California approved. We all assumed it would be Federal since I'm in New York. Then we found under the hood, it states conforms to USA and California.

The car was still bucking after installing this, but the light had gone out. Trying the 3xs turning the key to the left to get the code didn't seem to work now. The car was hesitant to start, and once it did, it de-energized and wouldn't run smoothly. I am having a big problem even starting it if at all. The gas is running through the line so that omits the fuel filter.

I am getting all sorts of "I don't know what is wrong, maybe it is the catalytic converter, the EGR valve, the throttle position sensor, and even that the computer has to be reset because of the module.

With just the information that I have given you, is there any way that you can tell me what to do or to look for or check out? I am an older single woman with children and no way of knowing what to do or who to turn to for help without being hit because I am female.

I would appreciate any help you can give me because I just had a beautiful Jeep Cherokee towed and crushed by the Police because it had problems that I couldn't get help with and so the Police decided it was stranded.

Plus I have an Olds Cutlass Cruiser that I believe must have blown its head as that won't heat, blows grayish white smoke big time, idles roughly, wouldn't start at all until I got a new battery just to move it and who knows what else. I took it off the road so I could get something to get me back and forth to work and lo and behold I got another trouble spot.

Thanks for anything you can do for me. I will try to call, but my hours are all messed up. I need to get this fixed A.S.A.P. so I can get to work everyday. I appreciate anything you can do for me. At this point I am trying to figure out if the computer module is really bad and if it is California or other states. If it matters about the driveability, etc. Too many questions in my head.

Thanks,
Lynn

A. I'll do my best to help you out Lynn. I know how tough it is on a single Mom.

First off, the Police can't just tow your car and crush it. If they did, get yourself a lawyer and sue them for a new car. I drove recovery tow trucks for many years in New York and I know the procedures.

The first thing you should do is get the fuel filter changed. A clogged or partially clogged fuel filter could cause all the things you mentioned. I think once you do that you will notice a big difference.

If the smell you are smelling is like a rotten egg odor, that would tend to support the case for a clogged fuel filter.

The noise you're hearing from under the hood is probably the cooling fan. Next time you hear it pop open the hood and take a look.

You have a California vehicle. The Federal model Engine Control Module will not work in it. You need to get a California ECM. Here are the part numbers of the ECMs for that year:

Engine Control Module

Manual Trans	Federal	5269602	$515.00
	California	5269599	$515.00
Auto Trans	Federal	5269604	$465.00
	California	5293124	$705.00

Let's get that fuel filter replaced and confirm we have the right ECM in there. Then if there are still problems, we'll see about getting them taken care of. And if you tell me what part of New York you're in, perhaps I can hook you up with a good mechanic.